l6o MY HORSE ; MY LOYE 



thoroughly to understand the structure of a horse's foot, 

 its economy, its bearings, its beauties, its provisions and 

 elasticity; and should he then turn and say, "There is 

 no God ! " that man is a fool and a liar 1 ' 



The foundation of the Grand Stand at Ascot was laid 

 January i6, 1839, by the Earl of Errol, Master of the 

 Buckhounds. Her Majesty Queen Victoria attended the 

 opening of the Grand Stand to the public, and was pleased 

 and interested in the racing. When it was over, she 

 commanded that the rider of the winner should be brought 

 before her. The Queen said a few kind words to the 

 highly dehghted boy, complimenting him on his judg- 

 ment and skill in riding, and further gladdened his heart 

 by presenting him with a ten-pound note. 



The Duke of Cleveland, Lord Darlington, was for fifty 

 years a leading patron of the Turf, and owned many good 

 horses, among which were Voltaire, Whisker, Haphazard, 

 and MuUy MoUoch. By his efforts and those of George, 

 Duke of Grafton, who had also a passion for racing, a great 

 improvement was made in the national breed of racehorses. 

 The Duke of Grafton owned the celebrated brood mares 

 Prunella and Penelope her daughter, from whom were 

 descended Whalebone, Buckle, Web, and other famous 

 winners of the Derby. 



The position of ' Lord George ' Bentinck in the sporting 

 world was unsurpassed. He began his stud with a few 

 well-selected animals — among them Venison and Drummer 

 — which gradually increased until in 1844 (the year of his 

 death) he had forty horses running in races, and nearly a 

 hundred in the stud. Elis won the St Leger, and Crucifix 

 the Oaks. Among Turf reformers, Lord George has the 

 greatest name. He made improvements continually, and 



